CategoryReviews
Honest horror reviews of films, series, games and books — no hype, no spoilers, just whether it is worth your time and your nerves.
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Film FestivalsMoviesReviewsShort Films
What Happened to Dorothy Bell? An interesting investigation of familial trauma and mental illness through a horror lens, What Happened to Dorothy Bell? uses a combination of vintage-style footage (not found footage, to clarify, although the approach is similar) and present-day proceedings. Protagonist Ozzie (Asya Meadows) was attacked when she was a child by her titular grandmother (Arlene Arnone Bibbs). Now a young adult, Ozzie searches for answers to why that happened and also about her grandmother’s disappearance. As might be expected with a family as the focus in a horror film, skeletons lurk in the closet and the supernatural may well be at play. What Happened to Dorothy Bell? has the feel of a gateway horror film, with its surprises and shocks not approaching very scary levels nor reveling in gory effects work. Lingering shots of rooms in which something may or may not happen in the background and noises from other rooms make for most of the suspenseful
Continue reading →
HBO MaxMoviesNewsReviewsStreaming TVTrailers
After years of anticipation, Gary Dauberman’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot finally arrives on MAX this Halloween season. Despite initial concerns about the film’s quality due to the lengthy development process and multiple delays, I can tell you now that it was worth waiting for. The story follows Ben, a writer returning to his hometown to investigate a childhood incident and seek inspiration for his next book. However, he soon discovers a sinister plot in the town: a bloodthirsty vampire and its servant terrorize the residents. Ben and a group of brave residents team up to save their loved ones and neighbors before it’s too late. Lewis Pullman delivers a compelling performance as Ben, portraying him as a relatable and determined protagonist. The cast, including Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, and Bill Camp, also shine in their respective roles. The talented young actor Jordan Preston Carter, who plays Mark, is especially impressive as a resilient and courageous character. Carter performs
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesReviewsThriller
Intensely Independent: The Micro-Budget Films of Blake Eckard could easily be titled Fucked-Up Families… but then you wouldn’t know what you are buying exactly… but it would be apt regardless… Things kick off with 2011’s Bubba Moon Face… The ironically named Horton Bucks (Tyler Messner) is a penniless mother fucker who blows back into his hometown due to his mother’s demise… and there he’ll stay since he can’t afford repairs for his junky jalopy… and he’ll be staying at his brother Stanton’s (Joe Hammerstone) house located in the woods because hotel rooms cost money… it’s a complete ouroboros really… Now these two aren’t great at funeral planning, which results in the day ending at a local watering-hole where Horton encounters his (formerly jail-bait) ex… drinks and mistakes ensue, Hunter wakes up with a new baby… supposedly Stanton’s conceived with a woman named Sabetha (Sylvia Geiger) who wants absolutely zero to do with the kid… apparently neither does Stanton as he
Continue reading →
MoviesReviews
Official synopsis: Over six tumultuous decades, three unwitting guests of a cursed New England home stumble upon a sinister secret dwelling beneath its floors — an eternal witch with an insatiable thirst for the souls of the living. Director Aaron Fradkin’s Beezel is a take-no-prisoners occult horror movie — just ask the little boy who gets offed within the first few minutes — that deals in otherworldly eeriness and impressive practical effects work. With the film’s lean, mean 82-minutes running time, Fradkin, who cowrote the screenplay with Victoria Fratz, keeps the suspense coming at a fine clip. Beezel plays like an anthology film with a strong connection between its three stories: the titular blind witch and the house that contains the basement in which she lurks. Beezel is a bloodthirsty one, and she gets her cravings met in a variety of gruesome ways. The film opens with what I feel is the strongest segment, which finds a budding documentarian (LeJon
Continue reading →
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GamingParanormalProductReviewsSci-Fi
Are you into gore but also like cute things? Do you prefer cats over unicorns? Do you wish you had a hoverboard with a mouth like a sailor? Or like melancholic AI? Well, have I got the game for you! Angry Demon Studio and Wired Productions’ hack-and-slash meets Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Ratchet and Clank will have something for you! Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Gori: Cuddly Carnage. Gori is a Cat created by Cool-Toyz Inc. as an “Ultra-pet”, a pet that does not grow old, needs to be fed, or needs bathroom breaks. His owner Professor Y was kidnapped by the Adorable Army who is hellbent on destroying human life on Earth. Armed with his wisecracking sentient hoverboard sidekick F.R.A.N.K. and aided by the gloomy AI CH1-P, Gori sets off on a journey of blood. Now, onto the game itself! The controls for Gori: Cuddly Carnage are easy to learn thanks to the aid of a “move list”
Continue reading →
GamingParanormalProductReviews
Analog Horror is on the rise, and along with it are games in the genre but unfortunately not many of them are available for all gamers as they tend to be more geared for PC players. That has changed with the horror analog game Home Safety Hotline now coming to console this month thanks to Night Signal Entertainment, Torture Star Video, and Puppet Combo! Home Safety Hotline puts players in 1996 in the role of a new hire at Home Safety Hotline, a service where people call in with problems they’re experiencing in their homes, and players will have to determine what that issue is to help them. The calls started normal but quickly became more…paranormal. Now, onto the game itself! Controls for Home Safety Hotline, they’re relatively easy to learn and you have options to keep the prompts on the screen as you play (which is a big help). If you’re familiar with how computers looked like in 1996,
Continue reading →
ForeignMoviesReviews
Picture it, Kyoto, 1949. A ratty hermit enters a renowned Karate tournament held by Japan’s Karate masters and absolutely sweeps the event due to his mastery of “real” Karate, as opposed to the showier style of his peers. That man, Masutatsu Oyama (played by action master Sonny Chiba, 1974’s Street Fighter series of films from Toei, who also produced this picture) was a real-life, Korean born Karate master that not only had a true passion for murdering bulls with his bare-hands, but also was Chiba’s sensei… but this film is based more on Karate Baka Ichidai, the manga-version of Oyama’s life (created by Ikki Kajiwara, Jirô Tsunoda, and Jôya Kagemaru, here adapted by screenwriter Norifumi Suzuki) than the actual events, which thankfully means less bull deaths are involved… but I’m getting ahead of myself… Oyama’s victory means jack shit to him (because it was against inferior Karate remember) and after a show of strength and ability against a gaggle of
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesReviewsThriller
Author-type Jack Russo (writer/director Joe Hollow) has got it tough all over… he’s got writer’s block like a mother fucker, and his marriage to his wife, Sienna (legendary Scream Queen Debbie Rochon), has seen better days. So, to try and get their life and Jack’s work back on point, the couple schlep out to a remote cabin which goes South rather quickly once Jack checks out a mysterious videotape he receives in the mail. Said VHS is some real Videodrome (the show within the movie) type shit… all sexual violence and murder biz, which repulses our hero before becoming an object of fascination that leads to Jack entering a demonic fugue state. Sienna falls sway to the dark influence as well, and soon their paths cross with a woman named Vivienne (August Kyss), who just so happens to have had major family problems that leads to a Faustian deal with an entity known as the Death Dealer that may spell
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsReviewsTrailers
Director Lee Daniels’ new possession horror The Deliverance is now streaming. The film is inspired by a real-life event that took place at the infamous “Demon House,” a case that gripped the nation in 2011. Zak Bagans even made a documentary about it. But is the movie worth watching? “At the heart of The Deliverance is the harrowing experience of Latoya Ammons and her family. Their Gary, Indiana, home became a living nightmare when unexplained and terrifying occurrences began to plague their lives. From children levitating to speaking in demonic voices, the family endured unimaginable horrors. The situation escalated to such a degree that it drew the attention of authorities, including a police officer, a nurse, and a child protective services caseworker, who witnessed firsthand the inexplicable phenomena.” Despite a talented cast featuring Andra Day, Omar Epps, Caleb McLaughlin, Demi Singleton, and Mo’Nique, the film struggles to deliver a compelling narrative. Unfortunately, Glenn Close, a renowned Oscar-winning actress, is wasted
Continue reading →
GamingProductReviewsSci-Fi
As a newcomer to the world of tabletop gaming which includes the vast and complex world of Wargaming, your imagination can only take you so far with picturing the world you’re making yourself enter. Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive have now brought the world of Warhammer and the chaos of its wars to life in the highly anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 where the story of the famed Ultramarine Demetrian Titus continues. In Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Captain Titus, now given the rank of Lieutenant, is on the road to redemption after years of accusations of hearsay. Titus and his chapter of Ultramarines face off against the invading force of Tyrinads, insectoid creatures who aligned themselves with Chaos. Now, onto the game itself! When it comes to the controls for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 if you’re used to playing third-person action games, you’ll be able to learn these controls quickly, but if not don’t worry, there’s a
Continue reading →
More from Reviews
Film FestivalsMoviesReviewsShort Films
What Happened to Dorothy Bell? An interesting investigation of familial trauma and mental illness through a horror lens, What Happened to Dorothy Bell? uses a combination of vintage-style footage (not found footage, to clarify, although the approach is similar) and present-day proceedings. Protagonist Ozzie (Asya Meadows) was attacked when she was a child by her titular grandmother (Arlene Arnone Bibbs). Now a young adult, Ozzie searches for answers to why that happened and also about her grandmother’s disappearance. As might be expected with a family as the focus in a horror film, skeletons lurk in the closet and the supernatural may well be at play. What Happened to Dorothy Bell? has the feel of a gateway horror film, with its surprises and shocks not approaching very scary levels nor reveling in gory effects work. Lingering shots of rooms in which something may or may not happen in the background and noises from other rooms make for most of the suspenseful
Continue reading →
HBO MaxMoviesNewsReviewsStreaming TVTrailers
After years of anticipation, Gary Dauberman’s adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot finally arrives on MAX this Halloween season. Despite initial concerns about the film’s quality due to the lengthy development process and multiple delays, I can tell you now that it was worth waiting for. The story follows Ben, a writer returning to his hometown to investigate a childhood incident and seek inspiration for his next book. However, he soon discovers a sinister plot in the town: a bloodthirsty vampire and its servant terrorize the residents. Ben and a group of brave residents team up to save their loved ones and neighbors before it’s too late. Lewis Pullman delivers a compelling performance as Ben, portraying him as a relatable and determined protagonist. The cast, including Makenzie Leigh, Alfre Woodard, and Bill Camp, also shine in their respective roles. The talented young actor Jordan Preston Carter, who plays Mark, is especially impressive as a resilient and courageous character. Carter performs
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesReviewsThriller
Intensely Independent: The Micro-Budget Films of Blake Eckard could easily be titled Fucked-Up Families… but then you wouldn’t know what you are buying exactly… but it would be apt regardless… Things kick off with 2011’s Bubba Moon Face… The ironically named Horton Bucks (Tyler Messner) is a penniless mother fucker who blows back into his hometown due to his mother’s demise… and there he’ll stay since he can’t afford repairs for his junky jalopy… and he’ll be staying at his brother Stanton’s (Joe Hammerstone) house located in the woods because hotel rooms cost money… it’s a complete ouroboros really… Now these two aren’t great at funeral planning, which results in the day ending at a local watering-hole where Horton encounters his (formerly jail-bait) ex… drinks and mistakes ensue, Hunter wakes up with a new baby… supposedly Stanton’s conceived with a woman named Sabetha (Sylvia Geiger) who wants absolutely zero to do with the kid… apparently neither does Stanton as he
Continue reading →
MoviesReviews
Official synopsis: Over six tumultuous decades, three unwitting guests of a cursed New England home stumble upon a sinister secret dwelling beneath its floors — an eternal witch with an insatiable thirst for the souls of the living. Director Aaron Fradkin’s Beezel is a take-no-prisoners occult horror movie — just ask the little boy who gets offed within the first few minutes — that deals in otherworldly eeriness and impressive practical effects work. With the film’s lean, mean 82-minutes running time, Fradkin, who cowrote the screenplay with Victoria Fratz, keeps the suspense coming at a fine clip. Beezel plays like an anthology film with a strong connection between its three stories: the titular blind witch and the house that contains the basement in which she lurks. Beezel is a bloodthirsty one, and she gets her cravings met in a variety of gruesome ways. The film opens with what I feel is the strongest segment, which finds a budding documentarian (LeJon
Continue reading →
GamingParanormalProductReviewsSci-Fi
Are you into gore but also like cute things? Do you prefer cats over unicorns? Do you wish you had a hoverboard with a mouth like a sailor? Or like melancholic AI? Well, have I got the game for you! Angry Demon Studio and Wired Productions’ hack-and-slash meets Tony Hawk Pro Skater and Ratchet and Clank will have something for you! Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Gori: Cuddly Carnage. Gori is a Cat created by Cool-Toyz Inc. as an “Ultra-pet”, a pet that does not grow old, needs to be fed, or needs bathroom breaks. His owner Professor Y was kidnapped by the Adorable Army who is hellbent on destroying human life on Earth. Armed with his wisecracking sentient hoverboard sidekick F.R.A.N.K. and aided by the gloomy AI CH1-P, Gori sets off on a journey of blood. Now, onto the game itself! The controls for Gori: Cuddly Carnage are easy to learn thanks to the aid of a “move list”
Continue reading →
GamingParanormalProductReviews
Analog Horror is on the rise, and along with it are games in the genre but unfortunately not many of them are available for all gamers as they tend to be more geared for PC players. That has changed with the horror analog game Home Safety Hotline now coming to console this month thanks to Night Signal Entertainment, Torture Star Video, and Puppet Combo! Home Safety Hotline puts players in 1996 in the role of a new hire at Home Safety Hotline, a service where people call in with problems they’re experiencing in their homes, and players will have to determine what that issue is to help them. The calls started normal but quickly became more…paranormal. Now, onto the game itself! Controls for Home Safety Hotline, they’re relatively easy to learn and you have options to keep the prompts on the screen as you play (which is a big help). If you’re familiar with how computers looked like in 1996,
Continue reading →
ForeignMoviesReviews
Picture it, Kyoto, 1949. A ratty hermit enters a renowned Karate tournament held by Japan’s Karate masters and absolutely sweeps the event due to his mastery of “real” Karate, as opposed to the showier style of his peers. That man, Masutatsu Oyama (played by action master Sonny Chiba, 1974’s Street Fighter series of films from Toei, who also produced this picture) was a real-life, Korean born Karate master that not only had a true passion for murdering bulls with his bare-hands, but also was Chiba’s sensei… but this film is based more on Karate Baka Ichidai, the manga-version of Oyama’s life (created by Ikki Kajiwara, Jirô Tsunoda, and Jôya Kagemaru, here adapted by screenwriter Norifumi Suzuki) than the actual events, which thankfully means less bull deaths are involved… but I’m getting ahead of myself… Oyama’s victory means jack shit to him (because it was against inferior Karate remember) and after a show of strength and ability against a gaggle of
Continue reading →
IndieMoviesReviewsThriller
Author-type Jack Russo (writer/director Joe Hollow) has got it tough all over… he’s got writer’s block like a mother fucker, and his marriage to his wife, Sienna (legendary Scream Queen Debbie Rochon), has seen better days. So, to try and get their life and Jack’s work back on point, the couple schlep out to a remote cabin which goes South rather quickly once Jack checks out a mysterious videotape he receives in the mail. Said VHS is some real Videodrome (the show within the movie) type shit… all sexual violence and murder biz, which repulses our hero before becoming an object of fascination that leads to Jack entering a demonic fugue state. Sienna falls sway to the dark influence as well, and soon their paths cross with a woman named Vivienne (August Kyss), who just so happens to have had major family problems that leads to a Faustian deal with an entity known as the Death Dealer that may spell
Continue reading →
MoviesNewsReviewsTrailers
Director Lee Daniels’ new possession horror The Deliverance is now streaming. The film is inspired by a real-life event that took place at the infamous “Demon House,” a case that gripped the nation in 2011. Zak Bagans even made a documentary about it. But is the movie worth watching? “At the heart of The Deliverance is the harrowing experience of Latoya Ammons and her family. Their Gary, Indiana, home became a living nightmare when unexplained and terrifying occurrences began to plague their lives. From children levitating to speaking in demonic voices, the family endured unimaginable horrors. The situation escalated to such a degree that it drew the attention of authorities, including a police officer, a nurse, and a child protective services caseworker, who witnessed firsthand the inexplicable phenomena.” Despite a talented cast featuring Andra Day, Omar Epps, Caleb McLaughlin, Demi Singleton, and Mo’Nique, the film struggles to deliver a compelling narrative. Unfortunately, Glenn Close, a renowned Oscar-winning actress, is wasted
Continue reading →
GamingProductReviewsSci-Fi
As a newcomer to the world of tabletop gaming which includes the vast and complex world of Wargaming, your imagination can only take you so far with picturing the world you’re making yourself enter. Focus Entertainment and Saber Interactive have now brought the world of Warhammer and the chaos of its wars to life in the highly anticipated Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 where the story of the famed Ultramarine Demetrian Titus continues. In Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, Captain Titus, now given the rank of Lieutenant, is on the road to redemption after years of accusations of hearsay. Titus and his chapter of Ultramarines face off against the invading force of Tyrinads, insectoid creatures who aligned themselves with Chaos. Now, onto the game itself! When it comes to the controls for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 if you’re used to playing third-person action games, you’ll be able to learn these controls quickly, but if not don’t worry, there’s a
Continue reading →
